Hoarding coronavirus supplies punishable by death in Iran: Attorney General
March 2, 2020, 12:08 pm

Hoarding coronavirus supplies punishable by death in Iran: Attorney General

An Iranian man wears a protective mask to prevent contracting coronavirus, in Tehran, Iran. (Reuters)

Those found guilty of hoarding coronavirus-related supplies in Iran could face the death penalty, Iran’s Attorney General Mohammad Jafar Montazeri said on Sunday, as the country continues to grapple with the outbreak of the deadly virus.

The nationwide coronavirus death toll in Iran is 66, and the number of confirmed cases 1,501 as of Monday, according to the health ministry.

Only 1 million out of 200 million face masks ordered by Iran’s health ministry were delivered to the ministry, Health Minister Saeed Namaki said in a letter to President Hassan Rouhani on Sunday.

The rest of the face masks are being sold on the black market, said Namaki, adding that the health ministry has had to purchase face masks from the black market at exorbitant prices.

A few weeks ago, Namaki announced that Iran sent 2 million masks to China.

Attorney-General Montazeri urged Namaki in a letter on Sunday to report any cases of coronavirus-related hoarding, saying “Disrupting the public health system is not only viewed as a crime but also faces punishment on par with spreading corruption on earth.”

“Spreading corruption on earth” is a crime punishable by death under the laws of the Islamic Republic.

source: Yaghoub Fazeli

EU top officials to visit Greece’s border with Turkey over migrant crisis Russia confirms coronavirus case associated with Italy travel: RIA cites ministry

BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”